Dengue fever: things to know

Dengue is a widespread mosquito-borne infection in the human beings, which in recent years has become a major, international public health concern. The disease is a serious problem in more than 100 countries in Africa, North and South America, the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia, and the Western Pacific including Pakistan.

Dengue fever is a sever flue like illness with fever, headache, muscle and joint pains that affects children and adults, but seldom causes death, if unattended. Dengue fever is also known as “break-bone fever”. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a potentially dangerous complication in about 1-3% of cases that begins with a sudden rise in body temperature which usually continues for two to seven days and can be as high as 40-41 degree. Blood platelets count is also decreased markedly. This can be very lethal for life due to lack of immunity.

The dengue virus is passed to humans exclusively by the bite of female mosquito known as Aedes Aegypti in search of a blood meal. This mode of transmission makes the dengue virus an arbovirus (that is, one that is transmitted by an arthropod). Studies have demonstrated that some species of monkey can harbour the virus. Thus, monkeys may serve as a reservoir of the virus. Mosquitoes who bite the monkey may acquire the virus and subsequently transfer the virus to humans.

There is no way to diagnose a mosquito if he is carrying dengue virus or not. Therefore, people must protect themselves from all mosquito bites. Dengue mosquitoes breed in stored or exposed water collection systems. The favoured breeding places are barrels, drums, jars, pots, buckets, flower vases, plant saucers, tanks, discarded bottles, tyres or water coolers, and other places where rain water collection is stored. Mosquito eggs develop to larva in two days.

It can be easily controlled by the various other effective methods like adopting tadpole, transgenic mosquitoes, fish and natural predators. We, the students of BZU, Multan have come forward to inform the people about the cure and control of this disease. Hopefully, many more volunteers join us or start a campaign on their own.

Thanks for these tips. I have heard that there is a high chance of dengue outbreak in august. Although your post is a bit old but the tips remains the same. I hope, people don't get effected by dengue much. I found some other tips that might help anyone looking for them. http://www.getrid.info/dengue-fever-prevention-ti…